Avon vs. Amherst girls soccer: SWC powers play to a draw

With Avon and Amherst both undefeated, the Southwestern Conference’s cream of the crop settled for a 1-1 draw at Amherst Junior High School on Oct. 4.

The host Comets (9-0-4, 5-0-3 SWC) and Eagles (11-0-3, 6-0-2 SWC) put on a thrilling match with a postseason feel, as both teams scrapped and clawed for each ball, but could only muster a first-half goal each.

“It was just a fantastic game,” Comets coach Gary Gonzalez said. “They’re a wonderful team right there. They went to regionals last year, and they haven’t lost. I’m proud to say we haven’t lost either. It was a good game, it had a playoff feel to it.”

The Comets had a few chances early on, but Avon broke through in the 17th minute with a cross into the box from Rachel Hapanowicz, which allowed Junior Abby Delprincipe to deliver a header right past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Delprincipe, who is a verbal commit to Cincinnati, talked about her early score.

“It was coming like right to my head, so I jumped up really high. The goalie was too, and we both challenged it. She came out really hard and I came in really hard and I guess my head just got on it,” Delprincipe said.

With Amherst allowing only two goals this season, Delprincipe and the rest of the Eagles knew how important their early lead was.

“It was really exciting, especially because I knew the goalie and I knew how aggressive she was,” Delprincipe said.

As the seconds ticked away in the first half, it seemed Avon was going to head into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

The Comets had other ideas, particularly sophomore Lexy Alston, who weaved her way in-and-around Eagle defenders, before booting it into the back of the net, with seven seconds left in the first half.

Alston was happy to deliver the equalizer just in the nick of time.

“We needed that,” Alston said. “That was a great way to go into the half. It was way better than being down. That really helped us out,”

Alston admitted that she felt some of her opponents may have gotten a little complacent, allowing the Comets to strike.

“I think they misjudged the time. They said the halftime was about to start. You got to play till the whistle all the time,” Alston said.

Eagles coach Attila Csiszar felt this is one game that got away.

“Yeah, we should have finished,” Csiszar said. “We didn’t finish in the first half. We didn’t finish. When there is seven seconds left in the first half, you have to finish the game.”

Eagles goalkeeper Maggie Beatty was a solid anchor behind the net, also tallying seven saves, including a lining shot that was snatched just in time as she came crashing down onto the field.

With the possibility of them meeting again down the line, Csiszar had high praise for his fellow SWC rival’s defense.

“They go to the ball. They attack the ball well,” Csiszar said. “I think each individual player tries to win the 50/50 balls. What they have going for them is that they do a really good job defensively attacking the ball and winning the ball.”

Gonzalez likes his team’s chances down the line, especially their ability to stay even-keel when faced with adversity.

“This is a very young team, but they’re a very intelligent team, and they’re calm,” Gonzalez said. “I like that, they can think through problems and not panic. We tell them, it’s 80 minutes and we’re going to build and we’re going to get one.”